2024's Best Workout Headphones and Earbuds: Elevate Your Training

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2024's Best Workout Headphones and Earbuds: Elevate Your Training
The right song, at the right time, can do magical things. For instance, it can help you beat your bench press record. Or inspire you to keep up your fast pace while running. That's why it's important to have amazing earbuds for your workouts.

However, workout headphones and earbuds are a bit of a peculiar breed. Here stuff like water and dust resistant (that IP rating), tight and comfy fit, and good battery life are more important than how they sound or look.

Moreover, unlike regular earbuds where good ANC is preferable, for workout earbuds and headphones, having a 'transparent mode' is more important. Imagine you're out for a jog, the last thing you want is to be completely oblivious to what's happening around you. But with "transparent mode" you'll be able to enjoy your songs and keep a tab of your surroundings at the same time.

But hey, there's some overlap here. You can also check out our top picks for wireless earbuds, and if you're on a budget, we've got some affordable wireless headphones too, just for some extra options.

Alright, let's get back on track! With all those specific requirements in mind, let's jump into our list of the absolute best workout headphones and earbuds you can get in 2024.

The best workout headphones and earbuds at a glance:


How we picked the best workout headphones and earbuds?


We did some extensive testing of all those models, trying to unearth any cons, and empirically test all the pros.

Among the testing procedures are:
  • testing the fit and comfort
  • splash and sweat resistance testing (when applicable)
  • Bluetooth connectivity range testing
  • sound quality and sound volume level testing
  • ANC testing (environmental noise cancellation)
  • battery life tests
  • interface testing (touch controls, app UI)

We have years and years of testing earbuds behind us (and some exercise experience as well), so you should rest assure that these are the best possible workout earbuds you can get at the moment.

Beats Fit Pro

Best workout headphones overall

Let’s start with the crowd’s favorite here: the Beats Fit Pro. These are the best wireless earbuds overall, when it comes to sport activities, due to the fact that they tick all the right boxes. The Fit Pro model uses ear hooks to keep each earphone in place, and it’s a very tight and secure system.

Even though Beats headphones and earbuds are famous for their powerful bass, the Fit Pro earbuds offer balanced sound with clear mids and highs. There are two physical buttons on the earphones, and the Beats logo also doubles as a multi-function button. You can pause or play, accept or decline a phone call, and even fire up your phone’s voice assistant service with a long press.

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Get your Beats Fit Pro here:

Beats by Dr. Dre - Fit Pro now 10% OFF

Apple H1 chip, ANC, Long battery life, transparency mode, IPX4 sweat resistance, get the best workout Beats earbuds now!

The battery life on these is pretty good, with up to 6 hours of battery life for the earphones and up to 18 hours if you count the charging case. Speaking of the charging case, it’s a bit bulky, and it doesn’t support wireless charging. There’s also a transparency mode on the Fit Pro, and this adds to the pros of the model.

The Fit Pro launched at $199.99, but there are great deals live at the moment, and you can get a pair for as low as $179.99, shaving 10% off the price. And at that price, these workout earbuds are unbeatable.

Pros

  • Incredible battery life
  • Superb sound quality
  • A fit that won’t come off
  • No issues with latency or connectivity
  • ANC
  • Transparency mode
  • IPX4

Cons

  • Chunky battery case

Jabra Elite 8 Active



As their name suggests, the Jabra Elite 8 Active are made for the active. Not only do they sound great and pack good ANC, but they are also very comfortable to wear and come with incredible durability. The earbuds have a pretty high IP68 dust and water resistance rating, while their charging case is IP54 certified. In other words, they should be able to survive even the heaviest and sweatiest workouts.

Additionally, the earbuds support Dolby Atmos for an even more amazing listening experience and pack good battery life. On their own, they should provide up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge. With the case, their battery life should be up to 32 hours.

Jabra Elite 8 Active

Get a pair of Jabra Elite 8 Active from Amazon

Sennheiser - SPORT

Best sound


The Sennheiser Sport True Wireless Earbuds boast fantastic sound quality, delivering crisp highs, rich mids, and powerful bass. You'll feel like you're in your own personal concert while working up a sweat.

Get your Sennheiser - SPORT here:

Sennheiser - SPORT

Hear low subs and soaring vocals with a frequency range of sound from 5 Hz-21 kHz Compact, exquisite and portable earset In-ear earphones for comfortable listening

The fit is pretty tight yet comfortable, and there are three different ear tips to choose from; one omits the rubber arcs for the times you want a more relaxed experience. These earbuds have an impressive IPX4 rating, making them sweat and water-resistant, so you can push through those intense sweat sessions worry-free.

The Sennheiser Sport can keep up with your marathon workouts, offering up to 7 hours of playback time on a single charge. And with the included charging case, you can extend that to a whopping 28 hours!

Pros

  • Great Sound
  • IPX4 
  • Wireless and fast charging
  • ANC
  • Decent battery life

Cons

  • ANC not that good
  • A bit bulky


Bose Sport Earbuds

Tightest fit


Back to the in-ear models The Bose Sports Earbuds are true to their name; they offer a tight and comfortable fit and really cool touch controls. With the included StayHear Max tips, these will fit pretty much any ear and won’t fall off during even the hardest workout. Sound quality is also good, but that's to be expected from a Bose model.

The touch interface lets you swipe for volume control and tap to play or pause music or answer calls. There’s also a shortcut feature that lets you program a function of your choice, like checking your battery level.

Get your Bose Sport Earbuds here:

Bose - Sport Earbuds True Wireless In-Ear Headphones - Triple Black


Speaking of battery levels, the battery life of the Bose Sport Earbuds is not that impressive, clocking in at 5 hours for the buds and 10 more hours if you use the charging case.

Another slight drawback is the lack of Bluetooth multi point, but on the other hand, you’re getting Bluetooth 5.1 with these. These wireless earbuds are also water and sweat resistant, they come with IPX4 certification.

Pros

  • Great fit with StayHear tips
  • Capacitive touch controls
  • Bluetooth 5.1
  • IPX4 water resistance
  • Active EQ

Cons

  • Battery life is uninspiring
  • No multipoint connectivity


Skullcandy Indy ANC

Best budget workout earbuds


If your budget is tight, you can still get a decent pair of workout earbuds. The Skullcandy Indy ANC model offers almost all the features you see in much more expensive earbuds but at a very affordable price.

There’s adjustable active noise cancellation with Ambient mode, touch controls, rubber arcs to hold the earbuds in place during your workout, sound profiles from the companion app, and more. Sound quality is pretty good for the price but don't expect wonders.

Get your Skullcandy Indy ANC here:

Skullcandy - Indy ANC True Wireless In-Ear Headphones - True Black


The battery life is one of the best in the business, with 8 hours from the buds and up to 32 hours with the charging case, which is a better battery life than what most competitors can offer.

The only downside is the lack of any sweat or water resistance, but the price makes up for that. These might not be the best workout earbuds, but they’re one of the cheapest that feature ANC.

Pros

  • Price
  • ANC with Ambient mode
  • Battery life is amazing
  • Wireless charging case

Cons

  • No water/dust resistance
  • Design is uninspiring


JBL Reflect Aero



Another nice budget-friendly pair of worjout earbuds are the JBL Reflect Aero. These bad boys pack an awesome sound for their price with an emphasis on bass. Furthermore, their a IP68 dust and water resistant rating makes them tough as nails. 

In addition to that, the earbuds offer 8 hours listenong time with ANC turned off and 7 hours of playback with it turned on. With the case, the battery life goes up to 24 hours with ANC disabled and up to 21 hours with it enabled. The JBL Reflect Aero also use fins, which provitde a more stable fit.

Get your JBL Reflect Aero here:

JBL Reflect Aero

Get your JBL Reflect Aero from Amazon

As for the downsides, the JBL Reflect Aero do pack ANC functionality, but it's not among the best out there. Even with the adaptive ANC enabled, the earbuds do a mediocre job of silencing the world. So, if you are in the market for earbuds with great ANC, these are definitely not for you.

Pros

  • Price
  • Great sound
  • Good battery life 
  • Stable fit
  • Fully dustproof and waterproof
  • Alexa and Google Assistant support
  • EQ via the JBL app

Cons

  • Mediocre ANC

Is it better to workout with headphones or earbuds?


This is a hard question to ask, but we're not dealing with easy ones here now, are we? All minor things aside, the most important thing about working out is motivation. And if a pair of new earbuds can get you there, then go for it.

If buying a pulse sensor-equipped pair or getting updates from a virtual trainer in your ear is your thing, then sure, a pair of workout headphones is a great choice.

Not to mention the soundtrack effect: many people enjoy listening to music while they train, and some studies suggest that the overall performance gets a slight bump when you're pumping up to the chords of "Eye of the Tiger" (track and genre for demonstrative purposes only).

How to choose the right workout headphones for you?


This one's a bit easier; it really depends on what you want to do with your workout earbuds. If you're a runner that goes for long marathons around the city, transparency mode is an absolute must (you don't want to be hit by a bus, right?). Battery life is also important for these long workouts.

On the other hand, if you're doing HIIT or something dynamic and intense that involves sweating, an IP rating is very important. The fit and comfort of the said pair of workout earbuds are absolutely crucial. They have to be a part of you to the point where you forget that they're there. Last but not least, we shouldn't forget sound quality!

Are there sport-oriented headphones or earbuds from popular brands?


Yes, there absolutely are sport-oriented headphones and earbuds from popular brands such as Bose, Jabra, JBL, and Samsung.

These headphones and earbuds are designed to be comfortable and secure during physical activity, and often feature sweat and water resistance, as well as features such as touch and voice controls for taking calls, operating smart assistants, and control music.

Some popular series include Jabra Elite Sport series, Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, Powerbeats, Bose Sport series, and more.

How do the different types of headphones and earbuds compare when it comes to workouts?


Different types of headphones and earbuds have their own unique advantages and disadvantages when it comes to working out.

In-ear (earbuds) headphones:

  • They are compact and lightweight, which makes them easy to take with you to the gym or on a run.
  • They provide a secure fit and are less likely to fall out of your ears during physical activity.
  • They often offer some sort of water or sweat resistance rating, which can help during intense workouts.
  • They may not provide as much noise isolation as over-ear headphones, which can be beneficial for outdoor activities as it allows you to be aware of your surroundings.

Over-ear headphones:

  • They can provide better noise isolation, which can be beneficial when working out in a noisy gym or when you want to focus on your music or podcast.
  • They can be bulkier and heavier than in-ear headphones, which can make them less convenient to take with you to the gym or on a run.
  • They may not provide as secure a fit as in-ear headphones, which can make them more likely to fall off your ears during physical activity.
  • They generally have better battery life than in-ear headphones, due to the increased size, allowing for a larger battery.

Conclusion


So there you have it: a list of the best workout headphones and earbuds, as well as a comparison of the different types and their advantages and disadvantages. However, it's important to keep in mind that this list is dynamic and subject to change. The market for headphones and earbuds is constantly evolving, with new models and technologies being released all the time.

There are bone conduction headphones, the ear hook design constantly evolves, on ear headphones are getting lighter, true wireless headphones now connect to multiple devices and have extended range. In order to stay informed about the latest releases and advancements in the world of headphones and earbuds, you should check this space from time to time.

Keep an eye out for new models that may better suit your needs and preferences, or that may offer new features that you find useful for your workouts. Additionally, we also offer the best deals and discounts on workout headphones and earbuds that are live at the moment, so you don't need to browse the web for hours, searching for the best price.
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